Five Chicago police officers will not face criminal charges after firing almost 100 shots during a 2024 traffic stop that killed 26-year-old Dexter Reed, prosecutors announced Wednesday.
Reed, who was Black, was shot 13 times in the legs and chest, according to the Cook County medical examiner. The shooting has sparked ongoing questions about police use of force and the role of tactical units in such stops.
Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke said the decision was based on “clear and overwhelming evidence” that Reed fired first. He shot 11 rounds in two bursts with a gun he had obtained illegally, injuring one officer. “This decision is not made lightly, nor does it lessen the tragedy that happened,” Burke said. “But under Illinois law, the officers did not commit a crime.”…